My Personal Witness - Missionary Work

Brethren!

      What a great season of opportunity that lies before us today! We have that ever powerful conviction that came to us from our recently called, new Stake Presidency. Under the Direction of President Shumway, we have began to more passionately push forward "Missionary Work" to Heavenly levels of dedication. Heavenly directed Sons and Daughters of God have began to see this and join in the moments of rejoicing as they see, and begin to feel even more for themselves... the Holy Ghost testify to them that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes both the stick of Judah (Bible) but also the stick of Joseph (Book Of Mormon).... together being the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness!

      Said the Savior, concerning the Book of Mormon, "... Behold, I do not bring it [The Book Of Mormon] to destroy that which they have received [The Bible], but to build it up." (Doctrine & Covenants Section 10: 52)

      The reason I begin with that approach, which explains the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the two "sticks" (Could be said "books" as well) that make his Gospel, "Whole" .... is because without both there could be no fullness. The world would still be in darkness, because of the contention that drove man to bicker and contend one with another on the plain and precious points of doctrine.

      When faith finally drove an uneducated farm boy to what we now call the sacred grove, the rein of darkness and spiritual poverty was nigh to end. Satan knew this full well. Thus his attack on the Prophet while he knelt in the grove. But nigh to end, the reign of darkness was! Because men (The Prophet & those whom followed after the establishment of the Church on April 6th, 1830) sought to know the will of God, the Lord said also, "And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them." (Doctrine & Covenants Section 10: 53)

      Here we are, in this great, and "Last" dispensation.... here we have the wonderful message about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness! Here we have the joy and the wonderful message that the world, a world so very much under the yoke of bondage placed upon it by one whom wishes us misery like unto himself... Satan.... a message the world needs! The world needs to know (Even though they should already know) that the Savior is whom he says! "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not." (Doctrine & Covenants 10: 57)

      In a way that needed to be addressed, the boldness of the doctrine found only in the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ, was taken unfavorably by many at the time of the restoration, after it, and even to this day. The bold doctrine seems to of cast offense in the eyes of the world simply because of the "Priesthood Authority" that is now had in the Church; First, the Aaronic Priesthood.

      On May 15th, 1829... Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood "by the hands of an angel, who announced himself  as John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament." (See heading for Section 13 of the Doctrine & Covenants) Not to far after the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored as well; Both, never again to be taken from the world.

      At the core of our faith, the basis for our bold declarations, and to the confounding of false doctrines, lies The Book Of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Book Of Mormon is a record of Gods dealings with his people on the America(s). It is a book that was written on plates of metal and/or brass (perhaps additional materials also) that starts near the year 600 B.C. and spans until "About A.D. 421" - (See Moroni chapter 10 [The last chapter in the Book of Mormon] or see page 531)

      So, it is by this great book, and through the mercy and wisdom of our Eternal Heavenly Father, that we know by what means and how it is we achieve that means to return to him! Inside this book is the doctrine by which we all have gained the blessings that we have. What is His doctrine? The Savior said to the Prophet [In the summer of 1828]; "Behold, this is my doctrine-- whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church."

      When we go about, making that change from our casual "Spectator" point of view... to the Active and in depth, it will... without a doubt REQUIRE us to have a testimony of The Book Of Mormon. Frequently have I mentioned that all we have in this church, and all we believe hinges on our testimony of The Prophet Joseph Smith, and the marvelous work that he helped bring forth, The Book Of Mormon. Having a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel should drive any man to deny himself of all ungodliness and forget himself and follow the Savior. Once we have ourselves which way the Lord wants us, we need to spread that love, and that joy!

      The Prophet Joseph Smith Once Said, "A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:227).

      I truly feel, without a doubt that this applies to all of us, in not only proclaiming the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also, to the fulfillment of prophesy....

      "And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men." (2 Nephi 25: 17) That marvelous work, is the Book Of Mormon. So, we have the warning... we know of its truth, now we must heed commandment as it is given by revelation.

      "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." (Doctrine & Covenants 88:81)

   The Lord has a generalized answer for all whom desire to help move the cause of missionary work forward
"And again, verily I say unto you, those who desire in their hearts, in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance, let them be ordained unto this power. For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days." 

      Now that I have addressed the above portions concerning the Lord, and how he declared it to men. I have a few "Latter-Day" Prophets whom also spoke frequently concerning the topic of "(Member) Missionary Work." 

      We know that the main focus of our Faith lies from the truth given us by the Prophets in The Book Of Mormon; it is what they taught there, that was taught them by the Savior for us all... in the latter days! You could not hope to find a better understanding about the Book of Mormon. It will serve as a means of leading people out of the mist of darkness both Lehi and Nephi testified blinded the way to the tree of life, but, holding fast to that rod of iron (The Iron Rod Is The Word Of God) will guide us back should we actually wander off.

     Ezra Taft Benson once said:

"Now God expects us to use the Book of Mormon in several ways. We are to read it ourselves—carefully, prayerfully, and ponder as we read, as to whether this book is the work of God or of an unlearned youth. And then when we are finished reading the things in the book, Moroni exhorts us to put them to the test, in these words: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Moro. 10:4.) I have done as Moroni exhorts, and I can testify to you that this book is from God and so is verily true."

"We are to use the Book of Mormon as the basis for our teaching. In section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord states: “And again, the elders, priests, and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in … the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.” (D&C 42:12.)"

      Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand. “And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye,” said Nephi, “for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things.” (2 Ne. 33:11.) Every man must judge for himself, knowing God will hold him accountable.

      The Book of Mormon is to be used “for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel,” the Lord says, and His words “shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth.” (2 Ne. 29:2.) We, the members of the Church, and particularly the missionaries, have to be the “hissers,” or the tellers and testifiers, of the Book of Mormon unto the ends of the earth.

       The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use. It shows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It contains the words of Christ, and its great mission is to bring men to Christ; all other things are secondary. The golden question of the Book of Mormon is “Do you want to learn more of Christ?” The Book of Mormon is the great finder of the golden contact. It does not contain things which are “pleasing unto the world” (1 Ne. 6:5), and so the worldly are not interested in it. It is a great sieve.

      President Ezra Taft Benson also said:

"Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat falsehoods. Our missionaries are not truly effective unless they are “hissing forth” with it. Social, ethical, cultural, or educational converts will not survive under the heat of the day unless their taproots go down to the fulness of the gospel which the Book of Mormon contains. Our Church classes are not fully spirit-filled unless we hold it up as a standard. The situation in the world will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of God, and quit building up and upholding the secret combinations that the Book of Mormon tells us proved the downfall of ancient civilizations."


      Lastly brethren, I know that we need not fear when we are doing the Lord's work. His blessings will watch over us everywhere we go and in all we do. If we will but live the Gospel better, our Faith would increase and then we all could witness and participate in building the Lord's church.... the ONLY true church. Such is my testimony brethren.... In the Sacred Name Of Jesus Christ, Amen.